If you think Martin Crane is just the dad from Frazier, you're wrong (but it's OK, we like you anyway). Martin Crane is actually Martin McNulty Crane, the creative force behind Austin-based indie rock group Brazos (and if you think that name has something to do with a river in Texas, you would be right, and, yes, we still like you). The outfit Brazos is perhaps best known for the self-released generally well-received 2009 debut, Phosphorescent Blues, but Crane has had a hand in other projects, notably in soundtrack work as the composer/music supervisor of the Academy Award-nominated Cutie and the Boxer and the fantasy-mystery flick Hugh the Hunter.

Crane's first solo release, Physical Therapy, arrives November 20 through INSCAPE. Single "Gunk of Stars," an anthem of icy, skittering beats, expressive vocals, and expansive textures, is streaming now on SoundCloud, and below. Apparently, Crane recorded it, along with the rest of the album, twice, as related here: "once as a live-performance recording with fellow collaborators Ian Chang (Son Lux, Matthew Dear, Landlady) and Spencer Zahn (Twin Shadow, Empress Of), and once as a solo record using Ableton [music software]. The best ideas of each recording were combined to create the unique hybrid style of Physical Therapy. Martin mixed the songs himself, leaving the last step to veteran mastering engineer Chris Gehringer (Drake, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Rihanna)."

The press statement also relays "songs move from outside in. Songs like "Physical Therapy" and "Modern World" look out at the environment, while..."Gadesco," "Heaven Is a Dancer," "Waterbed," and "Lights Out" are love songs that border on the spiritual." For an artist adept at creating unique worlds of sound, Crane's first solo effort appears it will be a nice addition and good fit within his well-focused body of work.

Listen to "Gunk of Stars" from Martin Crane:

—The ARTISTdirect Staff10.29.15

'Physical Therapy' from Martin Crane is available for pre-order through iTunes.